Combination jack and lightning arrester



Feb. 24 1925- L. G. PACE NT COIBINATION JACK AND LIGHTNING ARRESTER Filed May 23, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR A TTORNE Y Feb. 24, 1925- 1,527,525

L. G. PACENT COIBINAT ION JACK AND LIGHTNING ARRESTER Filed May 23, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 24, 1925.

LOUISG, PAGENT, 01

wrNrInLn, New YORK.

COMBINATION JACK AND LIGHTNIN G ARRESTER.

Application filed May23,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS G. PACENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winfield, in the county of Queens, State of I New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Jacks and Lightning Arresters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to electrical protection devices, and, more particularly, light ning and static discharge arr-esters for use 16 in conjunction with radio antenna. systems and the like.

The invention has for its object the provision of a unitary structure in which is combined a pair of connector terminals for antenna and ground connections, respectively,

and a spark gap device connected between the terminals together with means for quick ly connectiiig and disconnecting the radio apparatus to and from the antenna and ground. The last-mentioned means is preferably in the form of a spring jack designer to receive a plug of the telephone type.

According to the preferred embodiment. of the invention, the spark gap device and spring jack are mounted in a receptacle forming a part of a supporting member onwhich the connector terminals, such as bind- -ing posts, are mounted. The supporting member inthe preferred embodiment is molded of a suitable insulating material,- such as bakelite, and designed to be mounted in an aperture in a wall or panel or other medium. The spark gap device consists, preferably, of an evacuated glass container enclosing a pair of gap terminals,

movably mounted inside the receptacle and held in place by a contact spring. The spring jack in this prefererd embodiment is in the form of a cap which functions as a closure for the receptacle and which may be easily removed for gaining access to the-i nterior of the receptacle.

A clearer understanding of the invention may be. had from the detailed description which follows in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. Referring. to the drawing,

Fig. l is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention; 5'5 Fig. 2- is a longitudinal section through the structure shown in Fig. 1;

1923. Serial 1%. 640,825.

Fig. 3 is across sectional view taken alongthe line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The device illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a supporting member 1' which is preferably molded of a suitable insulating material as, for instance, bakelite. The supporting member is in general of cylindrical form and is provided with a cylindrical chamber 2 adapted to receive a spark gap device 4 consisting of a glass tube 5 closed at its ends by metal caps 6, to each of which is attached a gap terminal 7. The gap between the terminals 7 is of suitable length to permit lightning and dangerous static discharges accumulating in -the antenna to jump across and thence pass to ground. The spark gap device is preferably highly evacuated in order to lower the resistance of the gap. This device fits loosely in the chamber 2 and is held in place, as shown, by means of a contact spring 8, which is connected to the rod 9, the end of which is provided with a pair of nuts 10 between which a ground conductor 11 may be connected. The end of the spark gap device opposite the contact spring Sis electrically connected to the rod 12 through the medium of a metallic link 13 through which the rod 12 passes and with which it contacts. One end of rod 12 is provided with a pair of nuts 14 between which the antenna conductor 15' is connected. An insulating rubber shield 16 may be applied over the end of the antenna and is reterminal as illustrated in Fig. 2. The function of this shield is to keep the otherwise bare connections protected against moisture, thus tending to reduce surface leakage. The

corrugated extension 1 is provided in order to increase the surface distance between the antenna and ground terminals for the purpose of decreasing the surface leakage between these terminals, particularly in wet weather. The supporting member 1 is shown mounted on a panel 17, which may be an ordinary switchboard panel or it may be, for instance, a brick wall. that portion of the supporting member 1 which extends through the panel 17 or wall Qor whatever medium the device may be mounted upon is proportioned to suit the The length of thickness of such medium. The supporting member is provided with an external thread l 18 which is engaged by a large nut 19, the function of which is to securely retain the device on its mounting. A pair of lead gaskets 20 may be provided for securing a waterproof joint.

The chamber 2 is enclosed by a cap 21, which is preferably molded of the same material as the supporting member 1 and is provided at its center with an aperture 22 'of proper size to receive a connector plug of the telephone type 23, as illustrated.

- Contactsprings 24 and 25 are designed-to which they make contact. 'The contact cooperate with the lug 23 and are mounted on the rods 9 an 12 respectively, with It will'be noted that the spark gap device 4. and the jack s rings 24 and .25 are connected ,i'n paralle I bet-ween theantenna and ground terminals. .-i I

' The alternative arrangement illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and" 6 particularly convenient for use where it isundesirable to bore a hole of considerable size'through the wall of a building. This device comprises a molded supporting member 27 in the form of a receptacle in which the spark gap device 4 is mounted by means of spring clips 28 and 29; Spring clips 28, of which there are two,

are connected respectively to the screws 30,

which function as antenna and ground terminals I'he screws 30 are provided with nuts 31, by which they are held in place, and wing nuts 32. The antenna and ground conductors are connected between the nuts 31 and 32, as illustrated in Fig. 4. As will be seen, the spark gap device is so connected that the gap is between the antenna and ground terminals .The spring clips 29' are provided with. extending portions 29, which connect respectively with jack contact springs 33 and 34, as ismost clearly shown in Fig. 5. The supporting member 27 is provided with an aperture 35 of suitable size to permit the insertion therethrough of the contact portion of the connector plug. 36, the tip and sleeve of which connect respectively with the jack contact springs 34 and 33. As shown in Fig. 4, the

axis of aperture 35 is 'disposed at a convenient angle for plugging in. The supporting member 27 is provided with three mounting screw apertures by which the device may be mounted on a Wall or panel.

Iclaim: I

1. In combination, a supporting" member comprising a receptacle, a portion of said I supporting member being cylindrical in form and threaded on its exterior, said cy: lindrical portion being adapted to be inserted through an aperture in a Wall or the like and a nut for engaging the threaded cylindrical portion for securing the supporting member, a; s ring jack mounted in said receptacle, sai spring jack being operatively accessible for plugging in from-the exterior of said receptacle, a spark gap device dis-' posed within said "receptacle, and a' pair of connector terminals mounted on'said supporting member, said jack and said spark gap device being connected tween said terminals.

2. In combination, a supporting member so in parallel becomprising a receptacle, a pair of connector terminals on said suppprting member, .a spark gap device remova ly mounted in sa d receptacle, a cap for enclosing said recep tacle, and a'spring jack carried by said cap, said spark gap device and said spring jack being connected in parallel between saidterminals.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LOUIS c. PACENT. 

